Key forward Nigel Lockyer taken to hospital with a fractured skull but Rovers still beat Pioneer

A SERIOUS head injury to key forward Nigel Lockyer has soured defending CAFL premier Rovers’ 45-point win over Pioneer

Rovers ruckman Geordie Lelliott gets the jump on Pioneer opponent David Bray at the centre bounce. Cameron Ilett, left and Baydon Ngalkin (20) are the other Rovers players. Picture: ALECIA CLARKE

A SERIOUS head injury to key forward Nigel Lockyer has soured defending CAFL premier Rovers’ 45-point win over Pioneer.

Lockyer, the league’s leading goalkicker with 18 after four rounds, suffered a fractured skull when he was kicked in the forehead early in the second quarter.

He was conveyed to hospital where it was found he had a fractured skull.

Lockyer was one of three Rovers player to leave the ground in the early minutes of the second term.

Zane Clarke-Edwards hurt a hamstring and key ruckman Travis King was forced off the ground with back spasms.

Double Blues coach Damien Hall said the Lockyer incident occurred in a congestion situation.

“Someone tried to kick the ball out of the air and kicked him in the head,’’ Hall said.

“It was disappointing not only in terms of the extent of the injury, but the fact we didn’t even get a free kick out of it.’’

“We haven’t really thought about Nigel’s footy future, we’re more worried about him. But he’s going OK and it doesn’t look like he’ll require any major surgery.

“It was good to get some positive news back yesterday when Nigel started texting us.’’

Rovers broke away from Pioneer in the second half, booting four goals to one in the last two quarters and holding the Eagles scoreless in the last.

“We controlled the game as can be seen with our 51 inside 50s to 23, but we probably didn’t get it on the scoreboard,’’ Hall said.

Dylan Barry’s four goals and clever work when on the ball and Cameron Ilett’s delivery from a forward flank-roving role were highlights for Rovers.

Pioneer was best served by midfielder Jawoyn Cole-Manolis and defenders Jackson Cole and Tommy Jones.

Federal extended its lead over Wests in every quarter before winning their clash at Albrecht Oval by 106 points.

The Demons had 11 players kicking goals in a 23.13 (151) to 6.9 (45) win that took them to the top of the ladder.

Daniel Gorry in a midfield role was the best player on the ground for Federal, with Nightcliff’s dual premiership player Liam Holt-Fitz finding plenty of the football on a wing and Abe Ankers was his usual busy self.

Mishai Wollogorang and Nick Whyte were the best for Wests, who never recovered from a poor first quarter.